Robotics 101 at UMich: Applied numerical linear algebra as intro linear algebra

Post by mettamage » Thu, Jan 09, 2025, 7:59 AM UTC

caspper69 wrote: post #39

mettamage wrote: post #34

What's the best online credential for doing linear algebra? I like to do some self-studying but also, I'd like some form of "evidence" that I actually know my stuff and don't have t constantly explain that I do

I can't personally vouch for the program as I have not attended, but the University of Illinois offers quite a few mathematics courses online geared toward high school students, distance learners, and those preparing for grad school. It is self-paced, so may not be what you're looking for, and it is expensive ($1250 if you have a BS already), but I seriously considered going this route before deciding to save big $$…

Post by caspper69 » Thu, Jan 09, 2025, 9:58 AM UTC

downrightmike wrote: post #40

caspper69 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This would have helped me get an actual CS degree 25 years ago instead of CS-lite (networking & server admin). It's not that I can't do calculus, I took it in high school, and then again in my first go-round in CS. It's that I hate calculus. Not the subject itself, just the grinding away at problem sets. I did a refresher in pre-calc, calc I, calc II & discrete mathematics during COVID at the local community college…

Maybe stop torturing yourself for a bit. Sounds miserable.

Post by caspper69 » Thu, Jan 09, 2025, 9:59 AM UTC

liontwist wrote: post #46

caspper69 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This would have helped me get an actual CS degree 25 years ago instead of CS-lite (networking & server admin). It's not that I can't do calculus, I took it in high school, and then again in my first go-round in CS. It's that I hate calculus. Not the subject itself, just the grinding away at problem sets. I did a refresher in pre-calc, calc I, calc II & discrete mathematics during COVID at the local community college…

There are deep concepts behind multi variable cal. But if you just want to pass the course, memorizing problem shapes through practice will get you through calc 3. Do all the homework problems check the answer in the back of the book. You’ll make it.

Post by jamesliudotcc » Thu, Jan 09, 2025, 1:44 PM UTC

casey2 wrote: post #47

caspper69 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This would have helped me get an actual CS degree 25 years ago instead of CS-lite (networking & server admin). It's not that I can't do calculus, I took it in high school, and then again in my first go-round in CS. It's that I hate calculus. Not the subject itself, just the grinding away at problem sets. I did a refresher in pre-calc, calc I, calc II & discrete mathematics during COVID at the local community college…

A few hours per week simply isn't enough, the best success I've had studying was 6 hours a day, resting for 3 (leisure activity), "working" for 3 (class, commute, chores, related reading) and sleeping 12 hours. In books like Stewart, staring at a theorem until you can write it's proof should trivialize most problems in the book. If a method for solving a particular problem is too difficult for you maybe consider rese…

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 09, 2025, 2:12 PM UTC

BeetleB wrote: post #14

angry_moose wrote: post #4

Man this would have been nice when I was in school. For some reason linear algebra still isn't part of standard Mechanical Engineering course load (Calc 1, 2, 3, DiffEq) which made life extremely difficult in some of the later classes. I remember spending weeks brute forcing a lot of things that would have been trivial with a little bit of matrix math. I took a superficially similar class as a 400 level elective but…

> For some reason linear algebra still isn't part of standard Mechanical Engineering course load (Calc 1, 2, 3, DiffEq) Wow. In my undergrad all engineering majors had to take linear algebra (calc 3 was optional for computer engineering).